H.S. FOOTBALL: Jake Ramaker increases value to Milan

MILAN – Jake Ramaker has been a valuable part of the defense for the Milan High football team for the past couple of seasons dating back to his sophomore season in 2012.

"He's a quality young man, a good leader and he's academically in the top 10 of his class," said Bulldogs head coach Jeff Morris. "He was elected by his teammates as a captain before the season started, and you don't do that unless you're a quality person that's got a lot of respect in the locker room.

"And they don't elect players that aren't that good as captains either."

Ramaker's importance to the team increased this season as he's had to pull double duty for the defense. Not only has he played his normal position of defensive end, but he's also played linebacker.

"Because of personnel issues at the linebacker position because of graduation and other players not being a part of our program, we had a void we needed to fill," Morris said. "The first day back in the summer we put him there at linebacker, we knew we had a guy that could play the position well."

So Ramaker has split his time from being up front to moving back and looking to pursue the ball.

"It depends on what their offense is doing which one I play," Ramaker said. "It was difficult at first after playing just defensive end for two years, but I think I've progressed."

Ramaker said the difference in the positions is mainly a mental thing before the snap.

"It's just knowing which keys to read and understanding the flow of the football," Ramaker said. "At defensive end, I just lined up and tried to beat the guy in front of me."

Ramaker said he feels like he's a better player this year because he's more intentional about it with it being his final season as a Bulldog and after not getting a shot at the playoffs last year.

"I'm taking the game more seriously because this is my senior year," Ramaker said. "Plus last year was devastating not making the playoffs.

"We were right on the doorstep of a state championship two years ago, then it was almost shocking we didn't make the playoffs last year. Everybody took the offseason more seriously and worked harder this time around."

One thing that's similar this year compared to the playoff run two years ago is the quarterfinal opponent. The Bulldogs played Hickman County two years ago with a trip to the semifinals on the line. That's their opponent this week with identical stakes. Ramaker said he doesn't remember playing against Hickman County well enough to compare them to the team that came to Milan two years ago. Morris can, though.

"They're playing really well now," Morris said. "They're on a roll after getting whipped a few times early on.

"But they're a good team. You don't win two playoff games if you're not a good team."

Morris said their defense has changed, and they will try different things on offense.

"They were a 3-3 team defensively last time we played, and now they're more of a 3-4," Morris said. "Offensively they spread it out more, and they have an athletic quarterback.

"But they'll line up foot-to-foot sometimes and just run it at you. We've got to be ready either way."